Case: E-Authorizations streamline acting on behalf of a child and an adult in My Kanta

In My Kanta, people act on behalf of other parties each month up to 250,000 times. Acting on behalf of another person in the e-service is one of the most important features of My Kanta. It is possible to use Suomi.fi e-Authorizations to act on behalf of adults and children in the service. Due to the wider functionalities of the authorisations, many of the challenges related to acting on behalf of another person have been solved.

In the past, only official guardians were able to act on behalf of their dependants in My Kanta. Since spring 2021, acting on behalf of an adult has also been possible with a mandate. At the same time, My Kanta started using the Suomi.fi user interface to select the person to act on behalf of. 
 
- Previously when acting on behalf of another person, dependent children were retrieved from Kela's population data. The introduction of acting on behalf of an adult accelerated the transition to the Suomi.fi e-Authorizations selection interface also in our service. My Kanta wants to use a nationally uniform solution, says IT Specialist Markku Vuorinen from Kanta services.
 
Suomi.fi e-Authorizations also facilitate the consideration and administration of changing and more complex user needs. Previously, the joint custody agreement could prevent the guardian from using the services in My Kanta. Since January 2022, the guardians have been able to act on behalf of the child in My Kanta in accordance with the joint custody agreement, if the authority has coded and entered this in the Population Information System. Information on the joint custody agreement is transferred by means of e-Authorizations, and in most situations, the guardian does not need to do anything themselves to obtain the right to use the services for the management of the child's affairs.
 
This year, the situation has also eased for guardians with a non-disclosure order. In the past, a non-disclosure order may have prevented the use of the services when the system has not been able to access the rights protected by the non-disclosure order of the parent in a situation where the access rights have been verified. In the future, the guardians will be able to authorise each other to overcome the limitations imposed by the rule engine if the child does not have a non-disclosure order. 
 

Possibility of also acting on behalf of adults

The introduction of Suomi.fi e-Authorizations has also made it possible to act on behalf of adults. Since March 2021, an adult has been able to authorise another adult to act on their behalf in My Kanta. 
 
- This will surely be very beneficial for the elderly, for example, who find it difficult to use these services. Instead of having to use My Kanta themselves, they can, for example, authorise their adult child to help renew a prescription, says Business Specialist Mari Holmroos from Kanta Services.
 
The Kanta services are satisfied with the current features of the e-Authorizations, but expanding the authorisation possibilities of adult citizens is considered important. 
 
- It would be great if acting on behalf of an adult would develop so that the authorisation could also be made by other means than using the e-services, Holmroos says. 

Aiming for a smoother service for the citizens

The technical part of the implementation of Suomi.fi e-Authorizations in My Kanta was successful. Supported by the Digital and Population Data Services Agency, the process and its specifications lasted for a few months.
 
- All the previous challenges related to acting on behalf of another party were not solved right at the beginning. Fortunately, cooperation with the Digital and Population Data Services Agency has been continuous and well-functioning. We are constantly moving forward in expanding the possibilities provided by the e-Authorizations, Holmroos says.
 
The national solution has been found good in Kanta services, and it is also considered suitable for other similar services that are intended to function in the same way throughout the country. In addition, it has been perceived as a great advantage that Kanta services do not need to produce the authorisation solution themselves, but have been able to use the existing system. 
 
Above all, it is considered important that the solution works for the citizens. 
 
– The greatest benefit for My Kanta users is when the possibilities of acting on behalf of another person are expanded. After all, this is not for our benefit, but for the benefit of the citizens, says Vuorinen.